Edukans to end youth employment ‘rhetoric’ in Malawi

Edukans, an international organisation whose focus is education, has said it is committed to end the youth employment ‘rhetoric’ that has continuously haunted the country.

Edukans news conference

The organisation’s country representative, Limbani Nsapato, said Edukans—which will officially launch in the country later this year—has a number of priority areas including curbing youth unemployment.

“Edukans response in Malawi is focused in three priority areas of impact; and, these are quality education, skills and jobs and gender and sexual reproduction health and rights,” said Nsapato.

According to him, with a projected three-year budget of 2.25 million euros (about K1.96 billion), Edukans would like to achieve several targets including making sure that 600 youth are trained in entrepreneurial skills so that they can create their own jobs.

“The jobs will be created for the youth through innovative skills education,” he said.

He added: “We are collaborating with TEVETA and the Ministry of Education to achieve this, and once we start we will look for more resources to make sure that we reach out to as many youth as possible.”

Presently, he said, Edukans has recently secured 1.5 million euros from European Union (EU) and Master Card Foundation, to implement two three year projects in 26 Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs) with focus on girls’ education.

Nsapato said his foundation exists to support access to relevant education for underprivileged children and youth in developing countries as well as to involve society—especially the education sector—in international cooperation.